Improvement in devices for raising tailings from mines



w. A.V ROGERS.

|mprqyement in Devices for RasngmTalings from Mines.

N0. 122,657l PatentedJamQ, 1872.

WILFORD A. ROGERS, OF FOLSOM, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR RAISING TAILINGS FROM MINESl Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,657, dated January 9, 1872.

SPECIFICATION. To all 'whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILFORD A. Roenes, of Folsom, county of Sacramento, State ofCali forni-a, have invented Improvements in Raising Tailings from Mines; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawing are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains, to make and use my said invention or ilnprovements without further invention or experiment.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for raising tailings and dirt from bed-rock diggings up to and above the surface of the ground for the purpose of keeping the diggings clear of obstructions and getting rid of the dbris or tailings. It is frequently the case in placer mines that the pay-dirt lies upon or near the bed-rock at a depth of ten or twelve feet from the surface of the ground, which necessitates the removal of the top dirt before the pay-dirt can be reached, thus compelling the work of mining to be done below the surface. In this case the accumulation of the dirt and tailings soon causes serious inconvenience, which my invention is intended to obviate by providing a means of removing them from the mine.

In order to give a full and clear understanding of my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan View.

A represents a pit formed by excavation, in order to reach pay-dirt upon or near the bedrock. Now, in order to remove dirt and tailings from this pit or excavation, I employ a spout-pipe or closed flume, B,'which is capable of withstanding the necessary inside pressure, and place it at an angle so that its lowerl end will rest upon the bed-rock or bottom of the excavation, while its upper end extends above and is supported by the bank. The lower end of this iiume is closed by an end-piece, C, in which are two or more holes, d. At one side nearthe lower end Of this flume is an opening, E, with or into which the sluice or tailrace Ifrom the diggings communicates, so as to carry the dirt or tailings from the sluices into the lower end of the closed flume B. Now, in order to raise this dirt or tailings through the Hume to the surface, from some elevated position, so as to produce a proper head, I lead water into the pipe F, thence through the hose J J into the lower end of the fiume so that the streams will be delivered into and through it in a direct line with its length. Just above the opening E, and on the inside of the flume, the passage through it is contracted, as shown by the dotted lines, Fig. l, so that thestreams from the nozzle will pass through the contracted opening. Thus, when the sluice has delivered the dirt and tailings in the lower end of the closed iiume it will be caught by the upward passing stream and carried up the flume and discharged upon the bank at the surface.

In case the force of the streams which are delivered through the holes el should not be sufficient to carry the dbris to the surface, other nozzles, h, can be applied through holes in the sides Of the flume at intervals toward the upper end so as to give additional impulse to the tailing in the shaft. This same device can also be used for conveying tailings upon a level or at any inclination'where a sufficient fall of water cannot be obtained to carry them off. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The spout or closed iiume B with its endpiece O, provided with holes d, in combina tion with the sluice-opening E, substantially as and for the purpose above described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. y

WILFORD A. ROGERS. [L. s.]

Witnesses J osIAII POOL, 

